Chapter 26

Shuu and Iris, after leaving the tavern in the capital city of Altea, secured a room with the advance payment they received. In the Holy Grinia and its vassal states, paper money circulates, so even a substantial amount doesn't take up much space. This was one thing to be grateful for.

Incidentally, the inn they chose was of a middle-class standard, and it would be a double room for the two of them.

"Wow! It's cleaner than I thought!"

"Yeah. The sheets are white, and there's no noticeable dirt on the floor. It's a decent place for the money we paid."

The advance payment from the Black Cat was quite substantial. However, if they continued to live in the inn, they would use it all up in about ten days. Still, if they succeeded in the assassination, they would receive a considerable amount of money, allowing them to live comfortably for several months if they didn't indulge in luxury. Assassinations are highly dangerous and difficult, which is why the rewards are so high.

"Shuu, Shuu!"

"What is it, Iris?"

"Are you going to work tonight...?"

She referred to it as "work," but from the look on her face, it was clear that she was uncomfortable with the idea of assassination. She had once had the spirit to become a Holy Knight. He couldn't blame her for feeling that way.

"Yeah, but this is—"

"If so, I'll warm the bed with my body! When you come back, you'll be surrounded by the warmth of a beautiful girl! How about it? Isn't it exciting?"

"—Give me back my peace of mind, idiot."

"Ouch!?"

Shuu immediately delivered a chop to Iris's head. It was a waste of concern.

Her kindness was appreciated, but she needed to consider the timing and situation.

"There are two beds, right? We'll sleep separately."

"Hmm. You can say that now, but things will change at night! Men are like wolves, you know!"

"Too bad. I'm a spirit-type monster with no appetite, lust, or sleepiness. Even if a beautiful girl were to sleep next to me, I wouldn't be tempted."

"Wh-What...!?"

As a primordial spirit, Shuu had no such desires or needs. His energy source was mana, which he absorbed from the air. While eating could provide extra energy, it wasn't necessary.

Therefore, Iris's seduction plan had no chance of success from the beginning.

"That's why you're a disappointing girl."

"Ugh..."

"Don't sigh. When we get the money, I'll take you on a tour of Altea. The garden of the parliament building is a famous tourist spot, right?"

"Really?"

"Really."

"Then I'll wait obediently."

Iris said this as she lay on the bed. Her eyes, looking at Shuu, seemed to sparkle a little. Shuu almost sighed at her simplicity but then reconsidered, thinking it was just like her.

Even her cuteness could change one's perspective.

Since she was immortal due to the power of her magical armor, he decided to forget that Iris was actually twenty years old. Considering she could live forever, twenty years was still young.

(Nimrod Brat, the Minister of Finance, and the recovery of the gold coins... I got the target's home address from 'Hawk Eye,' so this should be quick.)

Until the dead of night, Shuu chatted with Iris.

◆◆◆

In the dead of night, when the town was quiet.

In this world, where electricity had not yet spread, it was already bedtime. In other words, it was the time for assassins.

"Well, let's go."

Shuu stroked the sleeping Iris and stood up. He then turned into a spirit and slipped out onto the inn's roof. The only light came from the moon and stars, and there was no sound except for the calls of nocturnal animals.

(That way.)

While in spirit form, he was slightly visible due to his magical light, so he materialized and ran across the roof. He tried to run as quietly as possible, but it was surprisingly difficult. This was something he needed to practice.

Still, he aimed for the high-end residential area. This district was lined with mansions and upscale shops, and it was where Nimrod Brat, the Minister of Finance who was embezzling, lived.

(The security will be tighter from here... I need to be careful.)

In the high-end residential area, theft was a concern.

Therefore, it was a high-priority area for the police, and regular night patrols were conducted. He had to avoid them, which required some attention, but with his ability to sense magic, it wasn't too difficult.

(The lion statue at the main gate... This is it.)

Recalling the characteristics of the Brat residence that 'Hawk Eye' had mentioned, Shuu began to consider his method of entry.

(The main gate has guards, and there are probably sentries in the garden. Using transparency might make me stand out with my magical light...)

Within the range of his magical sensing, there were already over thirty sentries. Even if he used transparency to pass through the wall, he would likely be noticed. Jumping over it would have the same result.

As an assassin, it was essential not to be seen.

After the previous failed assassination, the security had likely been increased, making it quite challenging to bypass unnoticed.

(Should I kill everyone with death magic? If I use necromantic power to make the bodies disappear, there will be no evidence.)

It was a violent option, but it was a viable one.

Searching the mansion for the gold coins would be tedious. Alternatively, killing everyone except the target, Nimrod, and forcing them to reveal the location of the gold coins would be effective.

Shuu decided to go with this plan.

(First, the guards at the main gate. — 'Death'.)

The four guards at the main gate were killed by death magic, their energy completely drained in a single strike. This was the magic wielded by the King's monster, a power that could affect even concepts.

Shuu immediately generated necromantic power and sent it to eliminate the four bodies. Necromantic power, infused with the concept of death, would cause any matter it touched to wither and turn to dust without resistance.

After confirming that all the bodies had disappeared, Shuu used acceleration magic to leap over the main gate.

(Six guards detected... 'Death'!)

The guards protecting the Brat residence were killed in a single strike, their energy absorbed by Shuu as mana. Using the absorbed mana, Shuu generated necromantic power to eliminate the bodies.

That made ten in total.

(Next.)

There was no time to waste. Shuu moved through the garden and used death magic on five more guards. He eliminated the five bodies with necromantic power.

Continuing in this manner, he eliminated the guards one by one, and a total of forty-eight people disappeared from the world.

All that remained was the interior of the Brat residence.

(By the way, there are supposed to be guards from a rival organization inside, right?)

Nimrod, to protect himself from assassination, had entrusted his guards to a dark organization. Since this organization was a rival to the Black Cat, eliminating them would be beneficial for Shuu.

With this in mind, Shuu turned into a spirit and floated. Since he had already eliminated the garden guards, he wouldn't be noticed even if he emitted a little magical light. He then used transparency to enter the second floor of the mansion.

(I think the third floor is where the servants live. I can probably let them be.)

Although he had killed all the outside guards, Shuu thought about this now. He was hesitant to kill them without cause, unless they got in the way.

He only knew that Nimrod's bedroom was on the second floor, so he decided to check each room. There were about eighteen rooms on the second floor, and checking each one was quite tedious, but he accepted it as a necessary task.

He stood in front of the first door and tried to turn the knob, but it didn't budge, apparently locked.

(No choice.)

Shuu used transparency to enter.

Inside, a man was engaging in a sexual act with four women.

"Ha... ha... ha..."

"Stop! It hurts! Ahhh!"

"Hehehe, stop? You're my slaves, you know!"

"No... I have a boyfriend—"

The room seemed to be soundproof, as he hadn't noticed anything from the outside. The women, except for the one being assaulted, were unconscious and covered in various bodily fluids.

Judging from the scene, they were not lovers.

(Carl Brat, Nimrod Brat's son, I presume.)

Nimrod had used his power as a legislator to cover up his son's crimes. Forcibly taking and raping women was one of those crimes.

There were many downsides and no benefits.

He was guilty.

(Die.)

"Ha ha ha, ugh!?"

Carl was killed by death magic, falling off the bed and lying still with his eyes wide open. The woman being assaulted was shocked and looked confused.

Shuu quickly used transparency to leave the room without being seen by the woman.

(Next, next.)

Killing Carl was a side task, so Shuu went to find Nimrod. He used transparency to enter the second room, but it was where several dogs were sleeping. It seemed to be the pet's bedroom. He ignored it and moved to the next room.

The third, fourth, and fifth rooms... he used transparency to check each one, and finally, the twelfth room.

He entered a room much larger than the others.

In the corner was a huge bed, and on it lay a man so fat he looked like a pig, snoring loudly.

(Could this be... him?)

Nimrod Brat's characteristics were his fat body, mustache, and bald head.

The sleeping man matched these characteristics.

Shuu decided to interrogate him about the gold coins and used vibration magic to make the room soundproof. He approached Nimrod and tried to wake him up.

However, he suddenly realized he had touched something like a barrier. As expected of a corrupt legislator chosen as an assassination target, his defenses were thorough. An alarm sounded, and Nimrod's bed was surrounded by a strong defensive barrier.

At the same time, the door at the back of the bedroom opened, and three men entered. They seemed to have been waiting behind the door as guards.

"It's a thief. Let's take him down!"

"Right."

"My arm is itching."

The unarmed man stood in front of Shuu, taking a position to protect the barrier-protected Nimrod. The second man moved to the window to prevent escape, and the third man moved to the door to prevent escape and take Shuu from behind.

Nimrod, awakened by the commotion, sat up.

"What's going on!?"

"Ah... it's a thief. Calm down, sir."

"What! Again... capture him and torture him. Don't kill him."

"Strict orders."

"Damn it! Stop complaining! What do you think I hired you for, Gregg!"

Gregg, the man standing in front of Shuu, shrugged at Nimrod's demands and gathered magic in his right hand. The converged magic took the form of a knife-shaped magical armor.

In other words, Gregg was a magical armor user.

The other two also activated their magical armor. The man by the window had a jagged-bladed sword, and the man by the door had transformed into a wolf-like creature, likely a magical armor user who wasn't a Holy Knight.

They were probably guards hired by Nimrod from a dark organization to counter the Black Cat.

"Let me warn you. Surrender and give us the information. It will be easier for you."

Feeling an absolute advantage with three against one, Gregg warned Shuu.

However, Shuu silently used death magic on the three men.

(You fools. 'Death'.)

Naturally, Gregg and the others fell like puppets with their strings cut. Shuu, feeling the magic accumulate inside him, approached Nimrod and touched the barrier protecting him.

"Ah!? What's going on, Gregg! Get up quickly. Protect me!"

But Gregg and the others didn't respond.

Because Shuu had killed them.

"R-right! I have this barrier! It's the latest barrier magic device from the Holy Grinia. Break it if you can—"

"Fool."

Shuu used death magic to kill the barrier, meaning he drained its energy as mana. No matter how strong the barrier, it couldn't function without energy.

In other words, Nimrod was completely unprotected.

"Aaaaaah! Someone! Someone, help me!"

Nimrod screamed, but Shuu had cast a soundproofing spell on the room. Even his loudest cries wouldn't be heard.

Nimrod, perhaps realizing this, seemed to panic and grabbed a defensive knife, waving it around.

"W-Who do you think I am! I'm Nimrod Brat, the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Elise! Back off, back off, you insolent—"

"Shut up. And that knife is in the way."

"Aaaaaah!?"

Shuu used the *Void Slash* to cut off Nimrod's arms. The pain made Nimrod roll around on the bed, and the blood staining the sheets red suggested he would die from blood loss.

Shuu used a movement spell to throw Nimrod to the floor and stepped on his back with his foot.

"Ugh! Aaaaah!"

"It would be a waste if you died, so I'll stop the bleeding."

"Aaaaaah! Aaaaah!"

Shuu, using acceleration and vibration magic, heated the cut surfaces to stop the bleeding. Nimrod screamed in agony, but Shuu showed no mercy.

It was more like a brutal murder than an assassination.

However, this was necessary for the second part of the mission, the recovery of the gold coins.

"Alright, it's time to be quiet."

Shuu immediately began the interrogation.